Liquid handling device



Patented Jan. 1, 1935 I PATENT oEFicE LIQUID HANDLING DEVICE FrederickN. Ironside, O one-half to Th Ohio Application March 24,

Claims.

'I'he invention relates to a device for transferring liquids betweendifferent 'containers therefor, and particularly to a device fortransferring heavy oils and fiuid greases.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterdescribed whereby liquid may be supplied to cr removed from a givencontainer with equal facility.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the operation of thedevice by pneumatic means.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the deviceparticularly simple and efficient means for adjustably controlling theoperative pressures therein.

A still further object of the invention is to pro vide in the devicemeans operative to prevent an over lling of. a container forming a partof the structure.

The method of operating and of handling the liquid is the subject of aseparate, co-pending application, .Serial No. 353,010, led by myself and'Ihomas`fM. Towne.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, withthe foregoing, will be set forth in the following descriptionof -the preferred form of the invention which is illustrated in thedrawing accompanying and forming part of the specification. It is .to be30 understood, however, that variations in the showing made by the saiddrawing and'description may be adopted within the scope of the inventionas set forth in the claims.

Referring to said drawing,

Figure l is a vertical and generally sectional `view of apparatus`embodying the invention, a portion of a container of the apparatusbeing broken away.

Figure 2 is a reduced view showing the apparatus disposed for use ineffecting a removal of the lubricant from a differential casing of amotor vehicle.

The present and preferred embodiment of the device of my inventioncomprises a relatively small and portable closed tank 3 having a topwall 4 through and from which a conduit 6 extends. The conduit endwithin the tank cavity 7 is disposed adjacent the bottom of said cavity,while a flexible hose 8 of required length is coupled to the outerconduit end by a suitable coupling.

It will now be noted that if a sub-atmospheric pressure be created inthe tank cavity 7 while the free end of the hose 8 is immersed in aliquid, such liquid will be drawn into the tank through akland, Calif.,assigner of omas M. Towne, Cleveland,

1928, Serial No. 264,551 (C1. 184-1.5)

the hoseas long as such sub-atmospheric Pressure obtains in the tank. Onthe other hand,

if the tank contains liquid above the bottom end of the conduit 6 and apressure exceeding atmospheric be created in the tank, the liquid 5 willbe forced from the tank through the conduit and hose as long as saidconduit end is immersed therein and said pressure exceeds that of theatmosphere. These relations, it will be noted, form the basis ofoperation of the present 10 device, and means are accordingly providedforl effecting the desired pressure conditions in the tank when and asrequired, such means essentially comprising an air compressor (notshown) and a control means 9 operatively connected bel5 tween the tank 3and a hose 11 from the compressor.

As herewith particularly disclosed, the control means 9 comprises aunitary structure having a body 12 which provides a mounting for the 20various operative parts of the device. In the present embodiment, thebody 12 comprises a generally cylindrical intermediate portion 13 andradial extensions 14 and 16. An air passage extends longitudinallythrough the body 25 portion 13, and said passage is divided to delneportions 17 and 18 thereof by means of a. nozzle 19 disposed therein.The nozzle 19, it will. be noted, provides a bore 21 and extendssomewhat into the passage portion 18 axially 30 thereof, it being notedthat the diameter of the passage portion 18 is somewhat greater thanthat of the nozzle. As here shown, the nozzle 19 comprises a separatemember threadedly engaged in an axial perforation 22 of a trans- 35verse partition 23 in the body passage, whereby the nozzle and partitioncooperate to separate the passage portions 17 and 18, it lbeing obvious,however, that the nozzle might be formed as an integral part of thebody.

Mounted in the passage portion 18 to extend axially therethrough andtherefrom is a tubular member 24 having the bore 26 thereof aligned withthe nozzle bore and preferably somewhat larger than the latter borewhereby air dis- 45 charged from said nozzle will move freely into thebore 26. Preferably, and as show, the nozzle tip is disposed to extendslightly within the inner end of the bore 26, and such .bore is slightlylarger than said tip whereby an annular open- 50 ing is defined betweenthe nozzle tip and the opposed portion of the member 24. For securingthe member 24 in the position now described, the latter is here shownthreadedly engaged in the outer end of the passage 18.

The body extension 16, it will now be noted, extends radially from thebody portion 13 at the passage portion 18 therein and is provided with apassage 27 therethrough communicating with said passage portion andarranged for connection to the tank cavity 7. As herewith particularlyshown, the top wall 4 of the tank is provided with a perforation 28having a sleeve 29 mounted thereat, and the free end of the bodyextension 16 is threadedly engaged with said sleeve. In this manner, thetank is arranged to provide the mounting for the body 12 and the passageportion 18 is connected with the tank cavity by means of the passage 27.Preferably, and as shown, the control means is so disposed with respectto the tank as to provide a convenient handle therefor, the body portion13 being disposed in parallel spaced relation from the top wall 4 of thetank.

It will now be clear that the passage portion 18 constitutes a chamberhaving three openings-namely, the nozzle bore 21, the bore 26 of themember 24, and the passage 27. If, now, an air stream under pressure beintroduced through the nozzle 19, its fiow through the bore 26 of themember 24 will draw air with it from the chamber 18 and so tend tocreate a vacuum in said chamber, with the result that the continuedremoval of air will 4draw air from the tank cavity. In this manner, ifthe free end of the hose 8 is immersed in a liquid, as in the grease ofthe differential housing 31 of the motor vehicle 32 illustrated inFigure 2, the latter will be drawn into the tank cavity in a wellunderstood manner. If, on the other hand, the bore 26 of the member 24be closed, the air discharged from the nozzle 19 will flow into the tankcavity and so create a pressure therein for emptying said cavity of anyliquid down to the level of the intake of the conduit 6. In this manner,the introduction of air into the chamber 18 through the nozzle 19 may beutilized either to draw a liquid into the tank 3 or to force a liquidfrom the tank to a desired point of delivery.

Any suitable means may be utilized for closing the bore 26 of the member24 when liquid is to be delivered from the tank in the manner described.As here shown, a disc-shaped member 33 is pivoted at one edge thereof tothe free end of the member 24 whereby it may be swung across the mouthof the bore 26 when the bore is to be closed. As shown, the member 33 isdisposed out of the way, when a suction is to be created in the tank. Itwill be obvious that other closure means for the bore 26 might beprovided-in fact, it has been found satisfactory to close the boreopening simply by the application of a finger thereto.

Means are preferably provided for preventing an over-filling of the tankwith liquid while the suction of the device is operative thereagainst,and as shown, such means comprises the provision of a valve arranged tobe operated by the liquid in the tank. As herewith particularlydisclosed, the passage 27 of the body portion 16 is lformed to provide adownwardly directed seat v 34 against which a valve plug 35 is arrangedto engage. Preferably, and as shown, the seat 34 is annular and the plug35 is in the form of a ball of somewhat smaller diameter than the boreof the passage 27 below the seat 34. Support of the ball from below isarranged to be effected by means of a perforated member 36 mounted atand against the upper end of the tank sleeve 29. In the presentembodiment, the member 36 is in the form of a flat annulus havinginwardly extending projections 37 cooperative to engage and support theball just below its mid-section. In this manner, a maximum surface ofthe ball is exposed to liquid moving upwardly thereagainst through thesleeve 29 whereby the impactof such liquid against the ball is arrangedto displace the ball toward the seat 34 where it will be held by thesuction. The ball is of course heavy enough to resist displacement fromits normal position on the member 36 by reason of the suction alone andits volume and weight relations are preferably such that it will iioatin the liquid. In this manner, if the before mentioned impact of theliquid is not sufficient to effect a seating of the ball, the latter isarranged to be floated to its seat, and the sealing of the passage 27 isassured. It will now be obvious that a particularly simple valve meansis provided for preventing any liquid from reaching the chamber 18 ofthe control device.

Means are preferably provided as part of the control device forregulating the flow of air from the compressor hose 11 and through thenozzle 19.l Accordingly, and as shown, the body extension 14 is providedwith a longitudinal passage 38 extending therethrough into the bodypassage portion 17, said passage being reduced at its inner end toprovide a seat 39 and a port 41 bethrough the port 31 is a valve stem 42operatively related to a valve plug 43 disposed in the passage 38 andarranged for engagement with the seat 39-as shown the plug 43 comprisesa ball. The free end of the passage 38 is here shown closed by means ofa screw plug 44, and a compression spring 46 is operatively engagedbetween said plug and the valve plug 43 whereby the latter will beconstantly urged to maintain a seated position. Manual actuation of thevalve stem 42 is arranged to be effected by means of a lever 47 pivotedto the body at the opposite side lthereof from the body extension 14,said lever being normally disposed substantially parallel to theintermediate body portion 13 whereby the fingers of an operators handare arranged to simultaneously enclose said lever and body portion.'I'he stem 42 freely engages in the port 41 and is preferably passedthrough a stuing box 48 at its point of emergence fromithe body portion13. In this manner, the operator is permitted to control the operationof the device directly thereat and in a convenient manner.

Air is arranged to be introduced to the passage 38 through a passage 49provided in the body portion 14, the latter passage being here shownprovided in the wall defining the passage 38. Connection of the hose 11with the passage 49 is provided by means of a connecting member 51threadedly engaged with the body portion 14 at the inlet end of thepassage 49 and having a reduced portion for insertion in the hosewhereby the latter may be clamped about it.

Since available pressures may vary and will usually be greater thanthose required for a most satisfactory operation ofthe device nowdescribed, a throttle means is preferably provided for adjustablyvcontrolling the pressure of the air delivered at the nozzle 19. As hereshown, such means is provided in the hose connecting member 51 andcomprises a needle valve 52 threadedly engaged therein and arranged tohave the inner end thereof adjustably' interposed in and across thepassage of said member.

It will now be noted that the device is particularly intended for `usein transferring liquids between various containers therefor. Thus, ifthe device is to be used for changing the lubricant in the differentialhousing 31, the tank 3 might first be charged with a flushing liquidfrom a container thereof and such liquid vthen discharged in thedifferential housing cavity.

The mixed lubricant and flushing fluid would then be drawn into the tankfrom the differential housing, whence it would be discharged into awaste container. The tank would thenbe charged with fresh lubricant, andthe discharge of such lubricant into the differential housing wouldcomplete the change. It will thus be clear that all of the .essentialoperations in chemins the lubricant are arranged to be effected by useof one device, the cavity of the tank l essentially constituting atransfer chamber in the process.

In using the device for introducing a ushing liquid into a housing for adifferential or other mechanism, it will be noted that after the levelof liquid in the tank falls below the intake of the conduit 6, the airwill be emitted from the conduit under pressure. The air thus emittedfrom the hose would be used to create turbulence in the flushing liquidand any liquid or grease to be removed. and so insure a distribution ofthe flushing liquid to all parts of the mechanism in the housing and athorough mixing thereof with the matter to be removed. This featurerespecting the use of the device is particularly valuable andconstitutes an important element of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a device for ushing a receptacle and withdrawing liquid therefrom.comprising a closed tank, a conduit arranged to form the means ofcommunication between said tank and receptacle, and manually controlledmeans inciuding an aspirator associated with the tank for forcing liquidand air separately from the tank to the receptacle and liquid from thereceptacle to the tank exclusively by way of said conduit.

2. A flushing apparatus comprising a portable container, a singleworking pipe only extending in said pipe, said aspirator formed andarranged to permit manual diverting of the compressed air into thecontainer for forcing the contents thereof out through said pipe.

3. A flushing apparatus comprising a portable container, a singleworking pipe only extending from said container and open thereto nearthe bottom of the same, an air-operated aspirator adapted for operationfrom a compressed air line connected to the upper part of the-containerfor exhausting the same and creating a suction in said pipe, and amanually operated valve on said aspirator for interrupting the aspiratoraction and diverting the compressed air into the container for creatinga pressure therein and forcing the contents of the container out throughsaid pipe.

4. In a ushing apparatus. means for creating alternate pressure andsuction comprising an air-operated aspirator taking the form of a hollowT so as to form a carrying handle, and a manually operablecompressed-air admitting valve on the cross run of the T, the other endof the cross run being open for the exhaust andadapted for manualclosing by the carrying hand of an operator to divert the compressed airFREDERICK N. IRONSIDE. i

